Public Works

Clay, What are the specific sewer problems? Clara

The problem is that urban infrastructure was built using materials such as clay or concrete materials, and the Public Works Department that has extraordinarily talented engineers, lack adequate funding to carry out the infrastructure improvements. When the City of Chattanooga was constructed stormwater drainage (rain) and wastewater (toilet) water were mixed and discharged to the river. As the City grew this practice became detrimental to health. The treatment plant is civil engineering brilliance. However, the collection line replacement costs big bucks, because building and roads are not on top of the 100 year old lines. The Chattanooga wastewater folks can handle whatever you throw at them, but they need funding to make it happen. I have seen this group in action, give them funding and it will happen.

There was a front page story on the city sewers Friday. Here's a link to the article online: http://tinyurl.com/dlfj9p

we do try our best to do our job (i'm the big guy in the picture from the story) and we do need the funding to do our job correct and i thank you guys for the nice comments it kinda makes you feel like your job MIGHT be worth something after all. our jobs are constantly changing because of the damaged and aging pipe also because of the technology in the pipeline and yes the sewage industry is ever evolving. my only hope is that while the funding may be increased for the equipment that also our efforts as workers trying to "keep ahead of the game" with day to day work and technology would not go unnoticed and maybe OUR funding would also be increased. after all the equipment can not do it by itself.